Umpire to reveal reason behind his mid-Test departure
The future of umpire Mark Benson is expected to be clarified on Tuesday after he quit mid-way through the second Test between Australia and West Indies.
The 51-year-old Englishman, who walked out after the first day of five in Adelaide, is believed to have left without giving a definitive explanation.
It has been suggested that Benson was upset with the implementation of the umpire decision review system during the opening day, but International Cricket Council general manager Dave Richardson said health grounds were the solitary reason for his exit.
"We can categorically say that," Richardson told Sky Sports News when asked if the sole reason for Benson's departure was his health.
Of reports anger at the referral system had caused the walk-out, Richardson added: "It's totally inaccurate."
Controversy
Controversy engulfed the opening day between Australia and West Indies when Benson twice ruled Shivnarine Chanderpaul not out following appeals for caught behind.
Television umpire Asad Rauf upheld Benson's first ruling, much to the displeasure of the bowler Doug Bollinger and Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
However, Benson's second decision was overruled despite there being no clear evidence of contact with the bat from the 'Hot Spot' technology employed in the decision-review process.
Benson has a recent history of health problems after failing to take to the field in any of India's first four matches of the one-day series against Australia in October due to high blood pressure and stomach problems.
Richardson said: "What we can say without speaking to Mark himself is that he quit the Test for a combination of health and pressure problems.
"Coping with a very pressured job proved too much for him."
Benson's umpiring career was cast into further doubt after Richardson declared only those up to the job will we be contracted.
He said: "We are only able to contract a certain number of umpires and only if they are up to the job."